|
|
|
|
I am pleased to return to reporting on the best in new fiction and non-fiction after a hiatus of a month after having sold my home and moving to a neighboring community. Don’t forget to check out our Featured Books section for information about some unique reading experiences. You join the more than 50,000 other monthly visitors to this site!
"The grand historical arc of our relationship with Islam is clearly peaking with the Bush Administration’s decision to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime and rehabilitate Baathist Iraq, much as we did with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan following WW II," writes Barnett. "Over the long run, the real danger we face in this era is more than just the attempts by terrorists to drive the US out of the Middle East; rather, it is their increasingly desperate attempts to drive the Middle East out of the world." Barnett’s book is devoted to the concept of how some nations, mostly the West as well as some in the East, have become "connected" through the ways modern communications and transportation has facilitated greater trade and prosperity, while those in the Middle East deliberately have not. "To be disconnected in this world," he writes, "is to be kept isolated, deprived, repressed, and uneducated, "adding, "For young men, it means being kept ignorant and bored and malleable." What seems perfectly normal to us is the opposite of what those in Middle Eastern nations have never known. "We are the only country in the world," writes Barnett, "purposefully built around the ideas that animate globalization’s advance: freedom of choice, freedom of movement, (and) freedom of expression. We are connectivity personified." This book will provide you with the "Big Picture" of issues at stake in a troubled world today. There are many books being published that attack President Bush, so it’s nice to take note of one that defends him. Bush Country: How Dubya Became a Great President While Driving Liberals Insane by John Podhoretz ($24.95, St. Martin’s Press) is a bit excessive in its praise for Bush, but the author does neatly expose the inaccuracies in the claims made about him by his political opponents such as the view that he is a moron, a puppet, a fanatic, a liar, and is failing to protect Americans. Podhoretz is a leading conservative pundit, so this will please anyone seeking ammunition to rebut the negative views being disseminated during this election year. Another book conservatives will enjoy is Phil Valentine’s The ABCs of Reality in America (#14.00, Berkley Books, a division of the Penguin Group). The author, a political commentator, is a strong advocate of his point of view and takes dead aim at liberalism’s hot button issues, amassing a body of facts readers will find very useful. The DaVinci Code, a bestselling novel by Dan Brown, has spurred widespread interest in the author’s source materials and has aroused controversies over the truth surrounding the New Testament story of Jesus. Dan Burstein has edited a new book, Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized guide to the Mysteries Behind the DaVinci Code ($21.95, CDS Books in association with Squibnocket Partners LLC) that brings together the views of experts that include historians, scientists, and theologians regarding Brown’s novel that suggested Jesus was actually married to Mary Magdalene, she was one of his disciples, and that they might have had a child together. If you have read the novel, you will benefit greatly from reading this informative book that examines Brown’s theories. One of the great problems affecting our economy and our lives has been the growth of regulation at the federal level. It often imposes additional costs on doing business that inhibit growth, particularly for small to mid-sized businesses. There are many other ways regulation negatively impact our lives. Cindy Skrzycki, a business columnist for The Washington Post, has written The Regulators: Anonymous Power Brokers in American Politics (Rowman and Littlefield Publishers). Issued now in a softcover edition, this is a revealing look at the career civil servants and political appointees who represent a major center of power in Washington, DC, who have enormous power while often remaining anonymous in its exercise. To get some idea of that power, at the time of the book’s writing in 2001, the Federal Register, a compilation of all laws and regulations, was a whopping 944 pages comprising two volumes.
On the lighter side, Sillouettes Wedding Planner & Organizer ($29.95, Silhouettes, 3022 Williams Grant Drive, De Pere, WI 54115) by Cindy Noel is a dandy book that unlocks the secrets of planning a wedding. The author has been a professional wedding planner for over a decade. Her book provides 28 wedding categories, tabbed alphabetically for quick reference. It is filled with tips for both traditional and contemporary weddings. This practical guide will help save brides both time and money for the bride who needs help in organizing her special day. You might also want to pick up Understanding Marriage by Richard Taylor ($18.00, Prometheus Books softcover). Based on numerous interviews with people from both good and failed marriages, the author, a marriage counselor, has developed a set of compelling proposals for reforming marriage, seeing it as a long-term process during which couples become married through years of mutual regard and caring, based on the mutual fulfillment of needs. He also recommends that relationships that don’t work should be dissolved through mediation rather than adversarial legal proceedings. There’s a lot of good sense in this book! After marriage often comes parenthood and a new book by David M. Frees III, The Language of Parenting: Building Great Family Relationships at all Ages ($14.95, Red Wire Press, Malvern, PA) is filled with excellent advice for expecting and new parent, as well as parents of teens, and grandparents. Since summer is often the time families go on vacation together, visit distant relatives, and generally have more time for their children, the author addresses the strategies for great communications, using a combination of humor and firmness as an essential parenting tool. When illness strikes, a marriage can be sorely tested. During: A Couple’s Intimate Experience with Breast Cancer Treatment by Jody Glynn Patrick and Kevin Patrick ($19.95, Veda Communications Co., Fresno, CA) tells the true story of Jody’s experience with the treatment required and the tough decisions required by patients and their loved ones. It is about overcoming the fears and finding a renewed purpose to one’s life. If you know someone facing these challenges, check out www.duringbreastcancer.com to learn more about this excellent book.
My late Mother was an internationally renowned authority on wine, so naturally I found The Vineyard: A Memoir ($14.00, Penguin softcover) of interest. Louisa Thomas Hargrave tells the story of how, in 1973, against the advice of experts, she and her husband, Alex, bought a run-down, vintage potato farm on Long Island’s North Fork and planted ten thousand European wine grapes. Her book is an extraordinary journey from being a naïve dreamer to an esteemed vintner and, along the way, learned the treachery of the international wine world. She also relates personnel sorrows that had to be overcome as she rose to the challenges of what became a rich and demanding life. It is an odd, but interesting topic. Fred Rosen has written Cremation in America ($25.00, Prometheus Books) that takes the reader on a captivating review of the history, practice and industry of cremation in America. A columnist for The New York Times, Rosen provides a world of information about this still controversial, alternative to burial as he offers an entertaining account of the early ancient custom by funeral pyre to the rise of the Christian church that banned the practice as a sacrilege. The modern nineteenth century cremation movement endorsed it even though it was still illegal. Today, nearly a quarter of the population preferred cremation to internment. Ambassador James Lilley, with his son, Jeffrey Lilley, has written a book that explains much about China and the Far East. It is China Hands: Nine Decades of Adventure, Espionage, and Diplomacy in Asia ($30.00, Public Affairs). He draws on a career that spanned 25 years in the CIA, spent in Laos, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and includes his move to the State Department in the 1980s during which he became a top diplomat in Taiwan, Ambassador to South Korea, and finally Ambassador to China from 1989 to 1991. As many of the great events and trends of history occurred, this man had, not only a front row seat, but also a hand in shaping their outcome. The behind-the-scene role of both espionage and diplomacy takes on a living, breathing reality as one reads this story of three generations of an American family in the Far East. As both memoir and powerful insight to the events that shaped the history of China and the Far East, this is a wonderful reading experience. For anyone interested and concerned about China, past, present, and future, I would highly recommend this book.
Another book from Free Press is Wendy Orent’s Plague ($25.00) that reminds us that plague is the world’s deadliest disease and remains one of the greatest bioterrorist threats we face today. Orent, a science journalist, examines some of the most famous outbreaks of this puzzling disease that, under normal circumstances shows little capacity for epidemic spread. The problem, however, is that its use as a weapon has been explored by nations such as the former Soviet Union. The history of this disease is a fascinating story in itself. The Black Death of the 14th century killed a third or more of Europe’s population and transformed history. To Conquer the Air: The Wright Brothers and the Great Race for Flight by James Tobin is yet another Free Press book ($16.00, softcover) is a detailed, well written story of how, on December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers launched America and the world into an entirely new age. Ironically, the event was not widely reported and it would take six more years of experimentation and improvement until they cemented their role in history. Dan Parry has written a book, D-Day: Reflections of Courage, ($19.95, BBC Books, distributed by Trafalgar Square, North Pomfret, Vermont) that is a companion volume to the Discovery Channel two-hour docu-drama about this major turning point in the war against Nazi Germany. June 6, 2004 marked the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Told through the eyes of the people who were there, the book documents the personal stories of those who took part. Handsomely illustrated, this book will please everyone who wants to learn more about this event. The casualties on that single day dwarf those of the current conflict in Iraq and offer a stark reminder of how many Americans sacrificed their lives and suffered injury to protect and preserve freedom. Dorothy Rabinowitz, a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for The Wall Street Journal, has spent nearly 20 years earning a reputation for thoughtful reporting about justice and false accusations. Her book, No Crueler Tyrannies: Accusation, False Witness, and Other Terrors of Our Times ($13.00, Wall Street Journal Books, published by Simon and Schuster) is now available in softcover as the author revisits the high-profile mass sex-abuse cases of the 1980s and 1990s to tell a harrowing story of zealous prosecutors, indifferent courts, and railroaded innocents. I am particularly aware of this as one of the most famous cases occurred in my hometown in New Jersey where a day care worker, Kelly Michaels, was falsely charged with 280 counts of sexually abusing nursery school children and imprisoned for five years before being clearing of all the charges. You will not lack for fiction this summer as there are plenty of new novels available.
Robert Mercer Nairne’s The Letter Writer ($22,95, Gritpoul, Inc, Seattle) shows his great promise as a new author. A Scot who lives on Malta, he has spent a number of years in the United States as well. His novel is set in Seattle and it is a fast-paced readable account of greed, excess, boredom and intrigue in America during the early days of the new millennium. He tells the story of four Seattle families who get swept up in the enthusiasm of the early economic boom of the 1990s. Following the advice of the writer of a financial letter, they come together, take the plunge, and are quickly disappointed. Following the highs and lows of their lives is an interesting tale. Lawyers who turn author have a good history of success and Don Medley has penned The Book of Luke ($24.95, RA Publishing, 1207 17th Avenue South, Suite 303, Nashville, TN 37212) about a lawyer accused of murdering one of his clients. It is the story of Luke Daniels who finds himself in bed and in love with a new client after their first meeting. When the client’s roommate returns to find her friend’s naked body on the floor beside the bed, his troubles begin. The resolution of the novel is a stunning surprise that reveals political evil and intrigue. The author practices law in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and shows a deft hand at story telling that will keep you turning the pages. From Lynne Hinton comes The Last Odd Day ($21.95, Harper San Francisco) that is sure to attract readers, as did her debut with Friendship Cake in the summer of 2000. A white, female pastor of a black church in North Carolina, the author brings a unique combination of experiences to her work and, in her second novel, she explores themes infidelity and forgiveness in marriage. The protagonist has been married to her husband for over forty years and, when he passes away in a nursing home, she discovers he had an illegitimate daughter named Lilly. As a strange new relationship forms, the complex emotions of the characters are explored, taking the reader on an interesting journey into the human heart. As usual, Penguin has published a number of affordable softcover novels to help pass the time at the beach or on the patio. Three of the latest include Dissolution by C.J. Sansom, Heart, You Bully, You Punk by Leah Hager Cohen, and The Once and Future Spy by Robert Littell. In reverse order, Littell, a master storyteller, entertains with a tale of espionage and counterespionage that reveals the dirty tricks and dangerous secrets about the CIA. In this case, it is the discovery of an elite group of CIA specialists protecting a clandestine plan that confronts the past and disturbing moral choices that must be made. Cohen’s novel is about a woman who teaches math at a private school in Brooklyn who, at age 31, after earlier romantic disappointments, dwells in self-imposed solitude. When one of her students needs to be home tutored after a fall, she finds herself falling in love with the student’s father. I won’t tell you any more except to say the heart makes its own demands. The debut of C.J. Sansom with a novel of Tudor England in the year 1537 has generated high praise from many critics and fellow novelists. This book is chock full of intrigue and surprises as an investigation ensues to prevent a murder of yet another royal commissioner. Each of these novels, in their own way, is a very satisfying read. Berkley Books, a division of Penguin, has published two interesting softcover novels. A Kiss from Maddalena by Christopher Castellani will take you to a small Italian village in 1943. In this debut novel, the author tells us about Vito Leone who sets out to win the heart of a rich, beautiful girl, Maddalena, in the midst of World War II and an uncertain future for himself. To everyone’s surprise, he begins to melt her stubborn, self-possessed heart. A less skilled writer might turn this story into a cliché, but instead it is a delightful romance. Elizabeth Burns has authored Tilt, the story of a woman whose life is full of blessings, including two delightful daughters, but she begins to notice that the oldest is developing in disturbing ways. She is unresponsive when called, doesn’t like to be touched, and the slightest disturbance sends her into a frenzy. Autism is an unusual topic for a novel, but this one handles it most deftly and you will cheer on the efforts of a brave mother.
Nine: Adolescence by Amy Hassinger ($14.00, Blue Hen Books, an imprint of Penguin) tells a powerful story of how Nina seeks to coax her artist mother out of her emotional seclusion, filled with black moods, by posing for a portrait, a nude, that marks her mother’s triumphant return to the Boston art world. The exposure, though, makes Nina uneasy and her father begins to strongly protest. The family begins to come apart and this story of conflicting emotions and needs will prove gripping and suspenseful. Images are also the theme in The Photograph by Virginia Ellis ($13.95, Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House). Here, too, World War II is the time period. For Maddy Marshall, it was a time of innocence until Pearl Harbor. Her fiancé and all the other neighborhood boys ran off to enlist. One evening, she dances with a handsome Lieutenant as photos are taken. Then her world begins to fall apart. The secret that follows and its solution will prove a very satisfying read. Yet another imprint of Penguin Putnam is Riverhead Books and it has recently published two interesting, softcover novels. The Misadventures of Maria O’Mara ($14.00) by Deborah Skelly is a hilarious debut novel about a show business talent agent struggling to keep her job, her baby, and her boyfriend. The main character has hit a midway mark in life when her former youthful enthusiasm has begun to wain and life seems a little less wonderful. At age forty, she grapples with her vicissitudes in ways that will keep you rooting for her to the last page. A very different novel is Lian Hearn’s Grass for His Pillow: Tales of the Otori—Book Two ($14.00) set in ancient Japan. Hearn’s young hero, Takeo Otori, first appeared in Across the Nightingale Floor, published in 2002 to a chorus of critical acclaim. Having vanquished the sinister Lord Iida in a stunning raid on his castle, Otori had suffered the loss of his protector and adoptive father and forced a separation from his love, Lady Kaede Shirakawa. This follow-up novel focuses on Takeo and Kaede as they mature in a dangerous world, consolidate their skills and power, and struggle to unite against all odds. If you like a breathless pace, elegant prose, and emotional depth, you will enjoy this sequel. Lovers of fantasy need to check in with www.wizards.com, the website of Wizards of the Coast, the most prolific and successful of publishers specializing in this genre. Among the new paperbacks available are The Lone Drow and Dawn of Night from their Forgotten Realities series and Prisoner of Haven from the Ragon Lance series.
Another publisher is off the beaten path. It’s Fuchsia Woman Publishing (PO Box 1532, Soquel, CA 95073) and the best way to learn about it is via www.percyveerance.com. Toni Dockter is the author of an adventure series, the first two of which are Percy & the Promise and Percy & the Plod ($8.95 each). Written for kids around eight years old and up, the stories are set in the farming community of "Yoosa" and have a goofy sense of humor that will instantly appeal to the younger set. There are some good lessons of life hidden within the pages of these appealing novels. If you have a youngster with whom you’d like to share a positive message in a modern fable about life in America, I would surely recommend these books. A third is scheduled for publication at the end of the year. "The Misadventures of Seldovia Sam" is a series written by Susan Woodward Springer and illustrated by Amy Meissner. The publisher is Alaska Northwest Books, an imprint of Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (PO Box 103006, Portland, OR 97296-0306) and the price is $6.95 for either Seldovia Sam and the Very Large Clam or Seldovia Sam and the Sea Otter Rescue. The author has lived in Seldovia, Alaska since 1995 and the illustrator lives in Anchorage. Suffice it to say these books reflect life in Alaska and they will delight beginning readers. Their large size print and clever, amusing drawings augment these tales. You can check them out at www.gacpc.com. A cute book is The Big Ocean by D.R. Thompson ($14.95, The New World Publishing, LLC) but it won’t be officially published until August. This is the second of six books in the Naptime Adventure series. The first was My New Town and these fantastical journeys relate a naptime dream of a child. The characters experience fun and imaginative new ways to see the world. In the dream, a little girl becomes a mermaid and explores the ocean and its many creatures. To learn more, visit www.thisnewworld.com. That’s it for June! Come back in July for more news of the best in new fiction and non-fiction. And take a moment to visit our Featured Books section to learn about some of the most unique new books available. |
|
|
|
Contact: Alan Caruba |
To reprint, e-mail for permission. |
|
|
A book by Thomas P. M. Barnett, The Pentagon’s New Map ($24.95, G.P. Putnam’s Sons) looks at "War and Peace in the Twenty-First Century." Barnett, a futurist and analyst for the Pentagon, spells out a new set of "rules" which the world is now fashioning. At the heart of those rules is "globalization", the way one part of the world is "connected" by economic and other treaties, the magic of modern communications, and how another part, the Middle East, is seeking to remain "unconnected" from the West, presumably to protect Islam and the sources of power that permit despots to continue ruling over the lives of billions of its people. 
Educational Freedom in Urban America: Brown v. Brown after a Half a Century ($24.95, Cato Institute) is edited by David Salisbury and Casey Lartique, Jr. This is a look at the US Supreme Court decision ending segregated education fifty years ago and what has occurred since then. Its contributors paint a dismal picture. Forty-five percent of black and 47 percent of hispanic children drop out of public high schools, compared with 27 percent of whites. The minority students are way behind whites in proficiency for the basic learning skills needed. The question this book asks is how inner-city students can achieve educational freedom and equality? A variety of solutions are put forth. If this topic concerns you, this book will provide a wealth of information on this subject. A good companion book to read is Contested Policy: The Rise and Fall of Federal Bilingual Education in the United States: 1960-2001 ($21.95, University of North Texas Press) by Guadalupe San Miguel, Jr. The author reviews the history of federally mandated bilingual education, beginning in 1968 and through its reauthorizations up to 2002. It has proved to be one of the most contentious and misunderstood educational programs in the nation. Those favoring it include Mexican American activists and others who are ideologically opposed to the assimilationist philosophy in the schools. Its opponents are just as widespread, favoring assimilation. The history of these opposing groups is spelled out in this excellent book. 
Another useful book is Get Urban! The Complete Guide to City Living by Kyle Ezell ($18.95, Capital Books, Inc.) It is filled with information on the best urban neighborhoods in any one of 35 cities in the US. Each is analyzed for its benefits, along with tons of advice on how to make the most of urban life. If you’re thinking of moving to a new location, you will greatly benefit from the data and insights provided on cities such as Los Angeles, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Las Vegas and many others. Still one more useful book is Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It ($13.95, Warner Business Books) that tells you how to make the most of a job interview, a performance review, or any other networking events, client meeting, or new business pitch. Most of us were raised not to brag about ourselves and often miss opportunities to put our best foot forward as a result. A top Fortune 500 leadership coach, the author has taught thousands how to exercise the art of bragging with style and grace. 
I have always loved reading history. It is the best guide to understanding our present day challenges. Since we are now engaged in a war against the terrorists who would impose Islam on the world, a look back at the last world war is useful. Our Mother’s War: American Women at Home and at the Front During World War II by Emily Yellin ($26.00, Free Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster) looks at the way WWII marked a turning point for women in American society when they were called upon to step into a wide array of roles that were formerly not open to them. Women became pilots, spies, disc jockeys, members of Congress and professional baseball players in their own leagues. This is a fascinating book that provides insights to the changes that occurred which led to far wider ones in the decades that followed the war. You might also enjoy General Ike: A Personal Reminiscence by his son, John S.D. Eisenhower ($16.00, Free Press softcover). An acclaimed military history, the author who resisted writing about his father has provided readers with a unique perspective on Ike’s military career and qualities as a wartime leader. Combining historical context and military analysis, this book will prove of great interest to anyone who wants to understand the role Ike played in waging the war on the Nazis. 
Samuel Jay has made an impressive debut with Shadow of Guilt ($17.95, available from 
The New American Library has two softcover novels that focus on women and marriage as their themes. Single Wife by Nina Solomon ($14.00) is about a woman with an unusual marital crisis. Her husband of five years is prone to disappearing for days at a time. She has dealt with it silently, but when he doesn’t return for several weeks, she begins to pretend he’s around, ultimately deceiving herself more than anyone else. This is an unusual, interesting story. In A Night As Clear As Day, R.J. Rosenblum ($12.95) tells of a woman living in rural Vermont who escapes an abusive marriage to find a true love that transcends time and destiny. A veterinarian, she hopes to start a new life as a partner in a clinic run by a couple in their 60s. When she meets a blind musician, a new love comes into her life and she knows she must take steps for a new and better life.
Heather French was the first Miss America of the 2000’s and has received numerous awards for her work to raise awareness of homeless veterans. In June 2001, she and her husband, Kentucky Lt. Governor, Stephen Henry, were blessed with the birth of their first daughter, Harper Renee, followed by Taylor Augusta in 2003. This may have trigged Heather’s talent for writing children’s books. Cubbie Blue Publishing (21900 Marylee Street, Suite 290, Woodland Hills, CA 91367) is publishing a unique series of books that explore what America stands for and what the holidays represent. Written and illustrated by Heather, you can check out these titles at